Pick of the week
Reclaiming With Monica Lewinsky
“There’s no field guide to surviving a scandal.” Monika Lewinsky is her own first guest in her debut podcast – and is incredibly candid and, dare I say, “empowering”, as she recalls moving on from her affair with Bill Clinton. She speaks to guests as the series continues, starting with Olivia Munn. Hollie Richardson
Widely available, episodes weekly
Down the Caff
In a world of hyper-glossy and increasingly identikit podcasts, this show is a breath of fresh air. The owners of E Pellicci, the famous cafe in London’s East End, have launched their own show to shout questions at their celebrity customers from Ray Winstone to Annie Macmanus. This season, musician Maverick Sabre and Towie star Tommy Mallet are among the guests facing ridiculous interjections and cheeky banter. Alexi Duggins
Widely available, episodes weekly
Lunchbox Envy
Did you know that the world’s most shoplifted food is cheese, or that the end of asparagus is called a squib? After the success of No Such Thing As a Fish, the QI team’s new pod is dedicated to deliciously niche foodie trivia. Two episodes are already available, on garlic and bananas (served separately, of course). Hannah J Davies
Widely available, episodes weekly
David Tennant Does a Podcast With …
After a four-year hiatus, David Tennant resurrects his interview show, with guests including Stanley Tucci and Russell T Davies. This week’s episode (out on Tuesday) sees Jameela Jamil discuss her move from T4 to Hollywood, and why she turned down Strictly. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
Audiolab
Another year, another ace batch of BBC shows promoting new podcast talent. Instrumental: Black British Trailblazers journeys from Black classical musicians to punk icons, while Heart & Stone deep-dives into British folklore’s origins. Most mindbending, though, is Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 – a staggering tale of the seven gay men whose consensual group sex in 1997 saw them tried in court. AD
BBC Sounds, all episodes available
